The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) carried out a demolition drive on Friday, May 24, in Jhampur village and Sector 122, Mohali. The action was taken just a few days after Hindustan Times reported on the rise of around 15 illegal colonies in Mohali. These colonies were reportedly developing right under GMADA’s nose, despite the Punjab government’s repeated statements that they were cracking down on such illegal activities.
During the drive, around 30 illegal structures were demolished between 11:30 am and 4 pm. Most of these buildings were under construction and located in Jhampur village. The GMADA team was led by officer Arvind Pannu. The enforcement team also visited Phase 3 of the 39 West Housing Society in Sector 122, where several more illegal buildings were being constructed.
In Jhampur alone, approximately 25 structures were brought down. These included houses and other buildings that had been built without the required approvals. The demolition was part of a larger plan to prevent illegal colonies from growing further in the area. These colonies had been built on agricultural land without following legal procedures.
Members of the Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) of 39 West housing society said that certain builders were trying to illegally expand the colony. Even after their construction license had been canceled, they continued to carve out new plots and connect them to the existing water, sewerage, and electricity services. Seven such illegal structures were also demolished during Friday’s drive.
Hirdesh Madan, secretary of the RWA, appreciated GMADA’s action. He said, “We had informed GMADA about this issue many times. We are happy they have finally taken action against the illegal construction by the builder.”
District town planner (Regulatory) Harinder Pal Singh confirmed that this was not a one-time event. He said the drive will continue in the coming days to target other illegal settlements as well.
Hindustan Times had earlier exposed that these unauthorized colonies had taken over nearly 50 acres of land across Mohali. This included areas in Sectors 120 to 123 and villages such as Daun, Raipur, Behlolpur, Barmajra, Tarauli, and Jhampur. The land used to be agricultural, but property dealers had illegally converted it into residential plots. Each plot ranged from 100 to 150 square yards and was sold to people who hoped to build their own homes.
This entire process was done without obtaining the required Change of Land Use (CLU) certificate, which is mandatory when converting agricultural land into residential or commercial land. The CLU certificate involves paying fees and getting official permission, which these colonizers skipped.
After HT’s detailed report was published, GMADA’s chief administrator ordered a report to be submitted within two days. Based on that report, actions were initiated not just against builders, but also government officials who may have ignored or allowed the illegal construction.
A senior GMADA officer said that the problem was not limited to just one department. According to him, the district administration also shares the responsibility. He questioned why land registrations were being allowed without GMADA’s no-objection certificate (NOC). He also pointed out that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) was providing electricity meters to these illegal houses.
He added, “If NOCs are not being checked, and PSPCL is installing meters, how can we control illegal colonies? All departments must work together to stop this.”
In August 2024, the Punjab housing and urban development department had made a major policy change. They canceled the rule that required a NOC for land or property registration. However, they also directed the regional development authorities like GMADA to make sure that illegal colonies were not allowed to develop.
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To help catch violators, the authorities were told to use recent satellite images from Google. These images can help identify illegal buildings quickly. The department also said that strict legal action should be taken against those who break the law.
The latest demolition drive in Mohali shows that the government is now getting serious about illegal construction. But it also reveals how deep the problem has become. Builders have been taking advantage of policy loopholes, and some officials may have turned a blind eye. This has allowed illegal colonies to grow fast, causing issues for both the government and genuine homebuyers.
The GMADA team has said that more such actions will follow soon. They have warned people not to buy plots in unauthorized colonies, as these structures may be demolished without warning.
In summary, the demolition drive in Mohali marks the beginning of a larger campaign to remove illegal settlements and restore lawful development. The authorities have also promised stricter monitoring and more coordinated efforts in the future.
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